Terrace, garden furniture, sun loungers: the exterior of a holiday let

The exterior is what guests see when they open the shutters, often before they've even put down their suitcase, and it's also what they chose from the photos in your listing. A terrace with dead leaves in the corners and sun lounger cushions soaked through will undo all your hard work inside in ten seconds. This guide covers the outdoor round: in what order, with what products, and how often.

What to do, and when

The exterior is done before the interior. Sweeping a terrace sends dust and debris towards the patio doors: doing it after mopping the floors means you'll have to go over them again.

Sweeping a terrace without bringing it all back inside

The direction you sweep makes all the difference. Always start from the back of the terrace towards the outside or towards a collection point, never towards the patio doors. Debris will gather in one spot for you to scoop up at the end, rather than chasing a pile that scatters everywhere.

Three commonly forgotten areas, and they're exactly what guests see when sitting down:

• The tracks of the patio doors, where sand and grit block the sliding mechanism. A handheld vacuum does more here than a broom.
• Under the furniture, which the broom tends to go around rather than under. Move the table, it takes twenty seconds.
• The corners and the base of the walls, where leaves compact and stain the floor as they decompose.

On a wooden terrace, always sweep along the direction of the boards: sweeping across pushes debris into the grooves instead of out.

Garden furniture, material by material

There is no universal product for outdoors, and the wrong choice leaves a visible mark all season.

• Woven resin and plastic: warm water and mild soap, soft brush. Avoid pressure washers, which warp the weave and snap the strands.
• Aluminium and lacquered steel: damp microfibre cloth and neutral soap, then dry off. No abrasive products, which scratch the lacquer and let corrosion in.
• Teak and exotic woods: soft brush along the grain, clean water. A wood brightener once or twice a year is enough; the rest of the time, just water. Greyed wood is not damaged, it's a natural patina.
• Glass table tops: wash then dry with a microfibre cloth to avoid limescale marks, which are especially visible in full sun.

In all cases, dry after washing. A table left to air dry will keep limescale rings from tap water, and that's exactly what guests see when they put down their coffee.

The parasol: the fabric, and above all, storage

Brush the fabric dry to remove dust and pollen, then clean stains with warm soapy water, never in the washing machine: machine washing destroys the water-repellent treatment and the fabric will soak up water at the first shower.

More important than cleaning: the parasol must always be closed and strapped at the end of the clean. An open parasol catches the wind, and a night-time gust can break the frame or send the base crashing into the patio doors. Also check that the fabric is completely dry before closing: a damp folded canopy will develop mould stains in a few days, and those never come out.

Sun loungers and cushions

Outdoor cushions are the most fragile part of any garden setup. They absorb night-time moisture, dry poorly, and develop dark stains in a single season if left outside.

The rule: cushions brought in or stored in a chest at the end of every clean, sun loungers folded or lined up as shown in your photos. Provide a waterproof storage chest if the property has no outbuilding: it's an investment that pays for itself in one summer.

For common stains on outdoor fabric, warm soapy water and a soft brush will deal with most. Dry flat and in the shade: direct sun will fade coloured fabrics.

What is a safety check, not just cleaning

Three checks to do at the same time as your outdoor round, because no one else will:

• The gate and fences, especially if the property welcomes children or opens onto a pool.
• Loose paving slabs and slippery steps, especially after rain or a winter freeze.
• Outdoor lighting, which is needed for late arrivals. A guest arriving at 11pm to a garden with no lights is off to a bad start.

These checks take no time but are your responsibility, unlike a missed speck of dust.